The History of the Parish

The two parishes of Coombe Bissett and Homington combined in 1934 to form a single civil parish. Before this their individual histories followed separate paths.Early HistoryThere was human habitation in Coombe Bissett from at least the Neolithic Age (4000-2500BC) and through the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman period. There have been archaeological finds of flint tools, pottery, bones and metal objects dating from these times, and there is field evidence of earthworks, field systems, barrows and Iron Age farmsteads. The Roman Road from Old Sarum to Badbury Rings crosses the north-west corner of Coombe Bissett.Anglo-Saxon archaeological finds from the seventh century have also been made and the first documents relating to this area are two Anglo-Saxon charters dating from the tenth century, referring to land at 'Ebbesborne'. They are both for land in Coombe Bissett, mostly south of the River Ebble. One, dating from 956 AD is for the eastern half, with the eastern boundary running along the later parish boundary with Homington, and it includes a meadow in Homington (Humming tun). This meadow remained a detached part of Coombe Bissett until the late nineteenth century. The second charter, dating from 961AD, is for the western half, with the western boundary running along the later parish boundary with Stratford Tony.The Domesday Book in 1086 included 'Combe' which was held by King William himself. Gytha, who heldit before 1066, was almost certainly Countess Gytha, mother of King Harold.An Outline of the History of the Manor of Coombe Bissett from the Twelfth CenturyIn about 1160 the manor was granted by Henry II to his steward Manasser Bisset, together with Rockbourne and Fordingbridge. When his grandson John Bissett, Chief forester of England, died in 1241 without a male heir, his estate was divided between his three daughters. The younger two, Isabella and Ela, each received half of the manor of Coombe Bissett together with other lands, Ela also having the manor of Rockbourne. From then on the two halves of the manor had separate histories.Isabella Bisset married Hugh de Plessy, and her half of the manor was passed through successive generations of his family until in 1381 it was granted to William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, for the newly founded Winchester College. It remained in the possession of the Warden and Scholars of Winchester College until the early twentieth century, when it was sold off in individual portions.Ela Bisset married John de Wotton, later Sheriff of Wiltshire. Her half of the manor passed in 1301 to their son John, who took the name of Bisset, and then in 1334 to their daughter Margaret, who married Walter de Romsey. Her portion of the manor passed with the manor of Rockbourne through branches of the de Romsey family, until by 1547 it was held by the Keilway family of Rockbourne. In 1610 the manor was sold, and after several changes in ownership was bought in 1777 by Jacob, Second Earl of Radnor. It remained part of the estate of the Earls of Radnor until the early twentieth century, when like the Winchester College land, it was sold off in individual portions.Jennifer Acornley